From Dhungala with love

A Yorta Yorta elder films an ABC Open Video Postcard on a smartphone and blogs about her ancestral language.

My grandmother was one of the last Yorta Yorta speakers. She taught Yorta Yorta language at Worowa College in Healesville, Victoria. At some stage I undertook the research for the Yorta Yorta Language Heritage Book (dictionary).

My mother and my children speak some of the language. Some years after the dictionary was published there was a demand to start language classes for community members to revive the language. We did a pilot study and applied for funding to do a 12 month project, funded by the Office of the Arts. This process not only invited me to learn my language but it also developed an interest in the intensity of cultural development attached to language renewal. Unless you have someone to talk to in your language, the language will stagnate, so teaching other people to speak Yorta Yorta has had numerous benefits.

Over the years many models of teaching have been tried and failed or just stopped, but this language development has been built to be sustainable, through the process of involving community according to their availability. We constructed a model that is based on small groups of five people per one hour session.

Throughout this time we have had a number of people do the language sessions.

One participant has published a Yorta Yorta children’s book. The local library currently has an Indigenous writing awards with an Indigenous language section in it for participants to enter language articles.

We are currently working on expressing language through audio visual media and are planning to have an exhibition in September of this year. The revival of language has been very instrumental in developing the confidence and self-esteem of the Aboriginal community in this area. There is also a very keen interest from the mainstream sector in Indigenous language development.

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Comments

Graham Briggs

Will Tinapple

Thanks Sharon for you fabulous postcard. I worked for a while with Uncle Jimmy, who told me some Yorta Yorta stories.

Hilda Stewart

Hi Sharon,
I love your postcard. The creation story sounds so much better in Yorta Yorta langauge. Thank you for sharing :-)

Jocelyn lawry

So important as you say for the confidence of your people. The Maori in NZ went through similar. A slow process but now Maori is taught in schools. Different but the same.

Sharon Atkinson

I thank you all for your kind comments and am very grateful that you appreciate our story of the creation of the dhungala. please keep checking for more Yorta Yorta stories in Yorta Yorta language in November of this year..

Jodah Briggs

I love this what you did aunt and i love you xxx

Carolyn Barker

This is a beautiful postcard. Thank you for sharing your language with us.

Amira Pyliotis

Hello Sharon,
Thank you for your post card and insight into what sounds like some pretty powerful progress being made around culture and language of Yorta Yorta people. It's fantastic to hear about these things and positive stories from the Indigenous community generally - It shows what's possible when the right processes are taken - I really hope to hear more Yorta Yorta stories. Thank you for sharing :)
much respect to you!
amira

Peta Khan

Thank you Sharon. It is beautiful listening to the Yorta Yorta language and story in your postcard. Your photography is so gentle to watch as well. More of this on ABC Open!

Vanessa Milton

Sharon, you have shared something very special with us. I was so absorbed in the story, when the rain came I was convinced you'd made it fall from the sky. You've invited us into your country and your language in such a beautiful, intimate way. Thankyou!